2026-04-11 7 min read
If you've ever heard a loud bang from your garage. almost like a gunshot. and then found your door wouldn't budge, you've experienced a broken torsion spring. It's one of the most common garage door failures we see in Bow, and it almost always happens at the worst possible moment: a cold January morning, you're already running late, and your car is stuck inside.
The good news is that spring failure doesn't have to catch you completely off guard. There are real warning signs, and knowing them can save you from being stranded.
Your garage door weighs anywhere from 130 to over 300 pounds depending on its size and material. Springs are what make it manageable. they counterbalance that weight so your opener (and your arm) doesn't have to do all the heavy lifting.
There are two main types: torsion springs, which mount horizontally above the door opening, and extension springs, which run along the tracks on either side. Most newer homes in Bow and across Merrimack County use torsion springs, which tend to be safer and longer-lasting.
Springs are rated by cycles. one cycle equals the door going up and then back down. Most standard springs are rated for 10,000 to 20,000 cycles and typically last between 7 to 10 years under normal use. If your household uses the garage door as your main entry point (which most Bow families do. especially given that the town lacks sidewalks and residents are almost entirely car-dependent), you could be burning through cycles faster than you think.
Don't wait for the loud bang. Watch for these signals:
Disconnect your opener and try lifting the door manually. A properly balanced door should feel like roughly 10,15 pounds. If it feels like you're dead-lifting the door, the springs aren't providing adequate counterbalance. they're wearing out.
Lift the door to waist height and let go. It should stay put. If it drifts back down, that's a clear sign of spring wear. This is a test every Bow homeowner should do once a year.
For torsion springs, look directly above the door opening. Healthy coils touch each other. If you see a visible gap in the spring, that spring is at or near failure. Don't keep operating the door. it could snap at any time.
If your opener is groaning, humming, or stopping mid-cycle, it may be trying to compensate for failing springs. Running your opener with broken springs can burn out the motor. turning a $300 spring repair into a much more expensive fix. Check out our guide to common garage door problems for more on how one issue compounds into another.
Bow's freeze-thaw cycles. where temperatures can swing from the mid-50s down to single digits within days. create significant condensation inside garages. That moisture accelerates rust on spring coils. Heavy rust increases friction between coils and weakens the metal, so if your springs are visibly corroded, don't ignore it.
Torsion spring replacement typically runs $150,$350 per spring, while extension springs are cheaper at $120,$200. However, most technicians recommend replacing both springs at the same time, even if only one has broken. Springs age together. if one has failed, the other is close behind. Replacing both during a single visit also reduces your total labor costs.
For a typical two-spring torsion system on a standard two-car garage (very common in Bow's colonial and cape-style homes), you're generally looking at $300,$540 for a professional replacement including parts and labor.
If you want to extend the life of your springs, ask about high-cycle springs when you replace them. Premium springs rated for 25,000,50,000+ cycles cost more upfront but can last 15,20 years. a meaningful difference if you're planning to stay in your home long-term.
We'll be direct about this: garage door spring replacement is one of the few home repairs where we genuinely advise against the DIY route. Torsion springs store enormous energy. enough to lift a 250-pound door thousands of times. If a spring releases unexpectedly during installation, it can cause serious injury. Professional technicians use calibrated winding bars, proper safety equipment, and years of hands-on experience for a reason.
The small amount you'd save is not worth the risk. See our DIY repair guide to understand which garage door repairs are actually safe to handle yourself.
If your door is 15,20 years old and the springs have already failed once, it may be worth evaluating the whole system rather than just replacing the springs again. Worn cables, aging hardware, and an old opener can add up quickly. A technician from Garage Door Bow can assess whether a targeted spring replacement or a broader refresh makes more financial sense for your situation.
For anything spring-related. or if you're not sure what's going on with your door. reach out to schedule a service visit. We serve Bow, Concord, Pembroke, Hooksett, and the surrounding towns throughout Merrimack County.
Q: Can I still use my garage door if a spring is broken? A: Technically the door may still move, but you should stop using it immediately. Operating the door with a broken spring puts enormous strain on your opener motor and can cause cables to snap or the door to fall. Stop using it and call a professional.
Q: How long does spring replacement take? A: A quality spring replacement typically takes 45,90 minutes, including inspection, removal, installation, balance testing, and lubrication of moving parts.
Q: Should I replace both springs even if only one broke? A: Yes. Both springs age at the same rate. Replacing only the broken one means the other is likely to fail within months, requiring another service call. Replacing both at once is more cost-effective and keeps your door properly balanced.